Trainer`s guide for Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling and Value Addition for Moringa in Tanzania October 2019 PREFACE This guide has been developed by Farm Africa in partnership with SUGECO. It was made possible through support provided by Feed the Future through the U.S. Agency for International Development, under the Feed the Future Tanzania Advancing Youth activity, Contract No. AID-OAA-I-15-00014 Task Order No. AID-621-TO-17-00004. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development. This guide provides technical knowledge of farming, processing and marketing of Moringa olifera. It has been produced as a learning output of the partnership and is ‘open source’ for young farmers, traders and processors within Moringa value chain in Tanzania. In the production of the guide, the combined team of technical staff and Young Professionals reviewed different references on: ∂ Best practices in Moringa production ∂ Business and marketing of Moringa ∂ Quality and safety of Moringa processing ∂ Moringa nutritional properties Some of the references used in developing this guide are as follows (but are not limited to): 1. How to Grow Moringa [http://atrc.net.pk/resources/agriculture/morinaga_tree/How%20to%20Grow%20Moringa%3F%20 %7C%20Cultivate,%20Plant%20Moringa%20Oleifera%20Trees.html] 2. Moringa English Book [http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/pdf/Moringa%20English%20book.pdf] 3. Benefits of Moringa [https://ecowatch.com/benefits-of-moringa-2611149881] 4. Growing and Using Moringa [https://strongharvest.org/growing-and-using-moringa/] 5. Orwa et al (2009). Moringa Oleifera in Agroforestry Database 4.0 [http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sites/treedbs/treedatabases.asp] 6. Saint Sauveur et al (2006). Fighting malnutrition with Moringa oleifera leaves: an untapped resource [www.moringanews.org] These references were customized to fit the Tanzanian context. The reader may come across inconsistencies eg: market price of Moringa per kg, however the guide was developed in the spirit of being a living document and would need relevant adjustments at the time of use. For any enquiries, please contact: Farm Africa SUGECO P.O Box 105181, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania P.O Box 3223, Morogoro Tanzania Telephone: +255 222 927 802 Telephone: +255 744 377 344 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.farmafrica.org Website: www.sugeco.or.tz Trainer`s guide for Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling and Value Addition for Moringa in Tanzania |Page 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER ONE ....................................................................................................................... 4 BEST PRACTICE FOR MORINGA PRODUCTION .............................................................. 4 1. Farm preparation .................................................................................................................................. 4 2. Planting ................................................................................................................................................... 4 3. Spacing .................................................................................................................................................... 5 4. Management of trees in the field ........................................................................................................ 5 5. Harvesting, Post-Harvest Handling & Storage ................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................... 8 BUSINESS AND MARKETING OF MORINGA ...................................................................... 8 1. Business benefits of Moringa ................................................................................................................ 8 2. Profit from farming Moringa olifera ................................................................................................... 8 3. Profit from processing Moringa olifera .............................................................................................. 8 4. Available markets .................................................................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 10 QUALITY AND SAFETY OF MORINGA PROCESSING .................................................... 10 1. Benefits of applying good processing practices ............................................................................... 10 2. General rules and regulations for handling moringa...................................................................... 10 3. During processing ................................................................................................................................ 11 4. Packaging .............................................................................................................................................. 11 5. Labelling ................................................................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................... 13 MORINGA`S NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES ....................................................................... 13 1. Moringa to boost family health ......................................................................................................... 13 2. Moringa as animal feed ....................................................................................................................... 14 Pre/Post Assessment Test ..................................................................................................... 15 Trainer`s guide for Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling and Value Addition for Moringa in Tanzania |Page 2 ACRONYMS cm Centimeter GHP Good Hygienic Practices GMP Good Manufacturing Practices g Grams Kg Kilogram L Litre m Meter OSHA Occupational, Safety and Health Authority SUGECO Sokoine University Graduates Entrepreneurship Cooperative TBS Tanzania Bureau of Standards Tsh Tanzania Shillings Trainer`s guide for Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling and Value Addition for Moringa in Tanzania |Page 3 CHAPTER ONE BEST PRACTICE FOR MORINGA PRODUCTION 1. Farm preparation The following are the factors to consider before/during farming Moringa plants: (a) Site selection » Select a field with well-drained soil (sandy loam) » Avoid termite infested soils » Open and well lit (sunny) area » Accessible area (infrastructure and transportation) » Available water (b) Land preparation procedures » Slash and remove all debris from the field » Plough and harrow the field There are three ways of propagating Moringa: direct seeding, growing cuttings and nursery. Direct seeding is highly recommended since it`s less expensive (work and time) and seedlings have a higher survival rate (no damage to tap root when transplanting). (c) Seed selection » Seeds must be collected from well-developed pods of healthy and productive trees. » Choose seeds of uniform size, weight and color. » Sort out and remove debris eg: stones, leaves, twigs, stems etc., wrinkled, diseased (mottled), molded, discolored, damaged and empty seeds. » Seed can remain viable for a few years if stored in a hermetic container at low temperatures. Seed usually represents a relatively small part of the monetary cost of producing Moringa. Yet the profit at harvest depends heavily upon the choice of seed for planting. 2. Planting (a) Prepare the field by clearing the soil and making ridges. (b) Place 2 - 3 seeds at 2 cm depth (approximately the size of one's thumbnail) directly into the soil and cover them with soil. (c) Irrigate the field to ensure moisture availability. (d) Dehulled or soaked seeds which are properly sown should germinate in 9 - 14 days. Planting should be done at the beginning of the wet season. For the case of Southern Tanzania, i.e. Iringa and Mbeya regions, this is between end of November and beginning of December. Trainer`s guide for Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest Handling and Value Addition for Moringa in Tanzania |Page 4 3. Spacing (a) For semi-intensive production, plant the trees 50 cm to 1 m apart (approximately one step). When the trees are for seed, leaf and pod production, there should be 3 - 5 meters (approximately 3-5 steps) between the rows. Figure 1 by Research Gate1 (b) For living fence posts, trees are often spaced in a line 1 m or less apart and rows must be 2 - 4 m. Give the ground some water but not too much (> 1 L/day), otherwise the seed may rot. 4. Management of trees in the field (a) Fertilizer application » Manure or compost can be mixed with the soil used to fill the pits. » Use 1 – 2 kg (approximately equal to one saddle)/pit of compost or well-rotted farmyard manure during planting. » Ensure continuous supply of organic fertilizer in vegetative phase to maximize leaf production and stem elongation. » During the rainy season, dig trenches 15 cm deep and 10 cm from the tree (approximately length of palm of hand), fill with ashes, green leaves and manure facilitate